Drop-pit mechanism for unwheeling locomotives



o. L. coFFEY DROP PIT` MECHANISM FOR UNWHEELING LOCOMOTIVES Dec. 8 l925- Filed Jan. 10. 1925 4 snets-sheet 1 j zdiz' @Scar YE.

Dec.. 8, 1925- O.` L. COFFEY DROP PIT MECHANISM FOR UNWHEELING- LOCOMOTIVES Filed Jan.10, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 2 DCC. 8,

o. l.. cor-'FEY DROP PIT MECHANISM FOR UNWHEELING LOCOMOTIVES I Filed Jan. 10, 19.25

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 O. L. COFFEY v DROP PIT MECHANISM FOR UNWHEELING LOCOMOTIVES Filed Jan. 1o, @as sheets-sheet 4 Patented Dec. 8, 1925. I

,UNITED STAT-Es PATENT oFFlNE.

OSCAR L. COFFEY, OF HARVEY, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOR TO WRITING CORPORATION', OI

lHARVEY, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

nor-rrr MECHANISM Foa Appiianon mea January adapted to transport a pair ofiwheels froma vehicle, su'ch as a locomotive, toa point on another track in such a position and condition that they may be rolled away vtor work to be done upon them. i

The invention consists in 'mechanism capable of attaining the foregoing and other objects; which can be com aratively easily y and cheaply made; which 1s satisfactory in use andis not readily liable to get out of order, vand particularly `in such a device which is operative to selectively ltransport wheels from separate locomotives on a multiplicity of separated tracks to a common point of delivery of the Wheels for work thereon. i

More .particularly the invention consists in numerous features and details of construction which will be hereafter more fully described in the specification and claims.

Referrin to the drawings in which like numerals esignate like parts throughout theseveral views: l

Figure 1 is a plan `view of mechanism illustrating this linvention in its preferred form.

Fi irregular line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation taken on the irregular line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a reduced size, changed positionview of the arts of Figure 3. taken from the' extreme rig-t handend of Figure 1.'

Figure 5 is a lan view f thecomplete pit, equipped wit the mechanism of this invention,showin the same applied in curved form as would e required it applied in or in proximity to a round house.

Figure 6 is a side elevation, taken on the re 5. Thel mechanism of this invention is apgure 2 is ya side elevationtaken on the UNWHEELrNG LocoMoTIvEs.

l HEISSUED `plicable to a multiplicity of adjacent but spaced railroad tracks 10-12 and 14 crossino' the top of an intersecting pit 16, preferably `but not necessarily entirely open at its top, there being in the 'bottom of the pit a track 18 along which the wheel transporting trolley 20 travels across the lines of tracks 10--14l rIhis trolley 2O is, inthe particular case here illustrated, made up of side frames 22 and cross beams `24, rigidly connected thereto, the side frames,including blocks 26 located over the rails 18 and adapted when the load on the trolley exceeds a certain point to, through the spring construction 28, interl posed between the trolley and its supporting wheels 30, rest upon the track rails 18 and thus take the. strain off the. wheels, all as more fully described and dIaimed in companion application, Serial Number 1517 filed herewith. The trolley as a' whole is propellable along the rails 18. by any suitable means, in the particular case here" illustrated by the rocking of hand manipulatable levers 32, equipped with ratchet dogs 34 selectively engagable with the teeth 36 on ratchet wheel 38, on the shaft 40 of the adjascent wheels 30, all as more fully described and shown in said companion application.

Rising fror and rigidly attached to four corners of the trolley 2O are four load carrying screws 42, each having threaded thereon a worm wheel 44 meshing with a Suitable worm 46 enclosed in an oil or greasegetaining case 48. yThe worms 46 are connected together in pairs by shafts 49, each carrying a bevel pinion 50 meshing with another bevel pinion 52. These two last mentioned pinions are on a' common shaft 54 carrying a gear 56 driven by a pinion 58 on the shaft ofvan electric motor 60 or. other suitable source of power receiving its energy from a source not shown outside the machine. Each two cases 48 overa given track rail 18 are'rigidly connected to box girders 62 made up, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, of spaced 'channel irons. Each two cases 48 which are opposite each othertransversely of the track are connected together by cross beams 64 rigidly secured in position by any suitable means, as, for instance, the angles 66, suitably secured to these cross beams and the adjacent channels of the box lgirrlers 62. The box girders 62 are equipped with spreaders 68, carried by bolts 70 which insure the side channe irons of the girder's lll being almost the same distance apart 'and Iconsequently capable of separably i'nteritting, as shown in Figure 3, with depending members-in the particular case here illustrated longitudinally disposed girders 72,

exten ing parallel with rails 18 and formthe agency of connecting-rods 80, toggl'e's' '82 and hand lever `84, from'the position shown in Figure 3 where the ends of the latches enter slots 86 in the side walls of the .pit 16, and rest upon stationary supports 88 to a .retracted position in which they are drawn inward. sulficiently to clear these supports .and thus permit the Wheel table to rest upon and travel with the upper' frame 6 2-64 as 'more fully appears hereafter. From th'e foregoing, it clearly appears that the Wheel table 74 can be locked in position f in the tracks 10-12 or 14 and that when so positioned, the frame 62-'64 can be lowv- "bfered and the trolley'f20 can then bev run a v Without in' any way interfering with such along track -18 (as shown` in Figure l4) locked in position wheel table-74.

Upw'ardly'projecting guides 90 lhaving faces 92 and 94l angularly inclined in planes at approximately right angles to each other insure the accurate vinterlitting ofthe liftr-v ing mechanism and the wheel carrying table 74 when the operator causes. the lifting 'mechanism tomove from the position vof Fi ure 4 upward to the position of Figure 3. ttention is called to jthe fact (clearly shown in Figure 4), that the tops of the 'l `screws'42 amply clear the projecting mem-s bers, specifically the girders 72 on the lower side of wheel tables`74, the significance being that as many tracks .l0-14 as desired,

. intersected by the pit 16, may be provided,

all of said tracks except one being equipped' with a wheel table 74 and that the trolley 20 may thenV go to any ftrack having a .table 7 4, connect upcwith` that table' as' shown in I' Fig. 3, havethelatches 78 released, and

then lower the table 74 to a point below theu 4to s ofthe screws 42 and thereupon' carry sald table under the tablesv of any other intervening 'tracksr to the opening inv the track-which did. not initially have 'a wheel table, and .by' raising' the carrying wheel table, place itin that track This is of importance in that the mechanism is capable of serving a multiplicity of tracks to deliver wheels from Vlocomotives onthosetracks to a'common track, as 12,1for work uponfthose wheels, this while leaving all of the tracks, except the service track l2, complete vsothat locomotives or lother vmachines to be dewheeled can moveat will over the different` tracks, regardless of the positionof the trolley 20-along the rails 18 in pit 16. This lowering of the table 74 tothe position in Figure 4 is rendered possible, as clearly shown, in Figure 1, by omitting all obstructions in alignment with the screws 42 from'.

the table structure 74..

In the operation ofl the entire mechanism, assume that the parts are in initial position ofall the ligures, except Figure 4, and that wheels 44 in unison to slightly raise liftingl `frame 62-64 and consequently wheel table 74 and -wheels 98 to a point at which'latches 78 can be freely' withdrawn by the operators easily manipulating lever 84. If this upward movement has applied too much of the weight of the entire locomotive to the lifting mechanism, springs 28 Axcompress and blocks or shoes 22 settle upoii the rails 18, thus taking-the load off wlreels 30 as described and claimed in the companion application, heretoforev mentioned. IWhen this extreme upward position is reached, the motor is stopped and the :operator blocks up or .otherwise secures the springs, not showin-on the locomotives and detaches' the wheelsl 98 which now rest only upon rail lsection 76 of table 74. The .operator now starts the motor 60 in the opposite direction.

lthus causing the entire mechanism shown.

tion of Figure 4 or lower, 'whereinthe lift-4 -f ing mechanism and the wheels 98 thereon y entirely clear the wheel table 74 in any other f track 1--14 under .which the wheel is to be carried. lThe moment the wheels 98 descend to a point where they onlyare carried by the table 74, the springs 28 return the blocks 22 to the normal position of Figure' 2 `in which they slightly clear the rails'18. .When the` wheels have beenlow'ered sufficiently,

the operators manipulate-one or both of the y levers 32 to-propel the trolley 20` a-Iid everything onl it along the pit until? the table 74,which has-just been removed from trackv l() is in proper position withreference to the service track, say track 12, on which the wheels are to be taken away. The-operator having stopped motor 60 before ma- I nipulating levers. 32 now starts. the motor to cause upward movement of the table 74. This movement iscontinued until the latches 78 are in position to slip over the supports 88.belonging to that particular track, as'12, i

whereupon the-lever 84 is manipulated toy throw those latchesinto extended positlon.

The motor 60 is now operated to lower the lifting mechanism until these l ches actually rest upon supports 88 of the particular track, as 12, in which the table 74'has been placed. In this condition of affairs, the Wheels 98 may be rolled oil' upon the .adjacent track, as-l2. The table 74, which has thus been brought and placed in track 12, may now be returned to original position in track 10 by reversing the operations described or this table may be left indefinitely in track 12 and the machine manipulated/in obvious manner until the parts assume the position of Figli/re 4 whereupbn the trolley 20 can be moved along the track 18 to another track, as 14, whose table 74, with or Without wheels thereon, is to be transported into Vany track 10-14 which has no table 74 in it, under the conditions `just described, track 10.A

The drawings show a completely open pit 1G but there is nothing in the structure of the invention which Arequires any surface opening between the tables 74 in elevate position or the respective (adjacent tracks. In other words,'if the pit is made deep enough andthe screws 42 are made of corresponding length, the table 74 and wheels thereon may be .carried down to a sufficient depth in the pit 16 to carry the wheels under any desired roof construction placed over the topof the pit. In this aspect, the invention is usable yin transporting a track -table between two adjoining pit top openings in the same track as well as under the conditions shown, wherein the effective open'- ings are in parallel tracks. g

In the specic embodiment of the vinvention, the pit 16v is curved from the center of intersection below Figure'5 of tracks 10 14. Obviously, if the `tracks were parallel to each other, the pit 16 wouldbe straight and at right angles thereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In mechanism of the -class described, in combination with means passing a wheeled vehicle over the ground, and a pit below it, having a multiplicity of separated wheel tables each equipped with meansdetachably latching it across said pit, a track in the bottom of the pit passing under said tables, a trolleyv travelable along said track, table elevating means bn and reciprocal vertically abovethe trolley, movable between a position where it engages and lifts a table which it may be under, high enough s o its latching mechanism may bel released, and a position low enough so that the trolley with said table and a wheel. load thereon may move along said track under one or more other such wheel tables.

2. In mechanism of the class described, in combination with means passing a wheeled a pit below latching mechanism may be released, and r a position low enough so that the trolley with said table and a wheel load thereon may move along said track under one or.

more other such wheel tables, and power means manipulating the table elevating means.

' 3. In mechanism of the class described,-

in combination withmeans passing a wheeled Vehicle over the ground, and a pit below it, having a multiplicity of separated wheel tables each equipped with meansf'detachably latching it across said pit, a track i@ in the bottom of the pit'passing under said tables, ya trolley'travelable -along said track, table elevating vmeans on and. reciprocal vertically above -the trolley, movable bctween a position where it engages and lifts a table which itmay be under, high enough so its latching mechanism may be released, and a position low enough so that the trolley with said table and a wheel load thereo n may move along said track under onev or more other such wheel tables, said power means including a multiplicity of stationary screwsrisin l from the trolle 4. In mec anism of the c ass described,

in combination with means passing a wheeled vehicle over the ground, anda pit below it, having a multiplicity of separated wheel tables each equippedjwith means detachably latching it across said pit, a track in the bottom of the pit passing under said tables, a trolley travelable alon said track, table elevating means on an reciprocal vertically above the trolley, movable between apositiony where it enga es and lifts a table which it may be'under, igh enough so its latching mechanism may be released, and a position low enoughv so that the trolley with said table and a wheel load thereon may move along said track under' onev or more other such wheel tables, and power means -manipulating the table elevating means, said power means including a multiplicity of stationary screws rising from the trolley.l

5. In mechanism of the class described, in combination with means passing a wheeled vehicle over the ground, and al pit below it, having a multiplicity of separated wheel tables each equipped with means detachably bottom of the pit passing under said tables,

vlatching it across said pit, a track in the elevating meanson and reci'procallvertically above the trolley, movable between a osltion where it engages and lifts a table w ich it may beunder, high enough so its latching mechanism may be released, and a position low enough so that the trolley with said table and a wheel load thereon may move along said track under one or more other suchA wheel tables, said power means including a lmultiplicity of stationary screws rising from the trolley, a frame carrying worm tables eachequipped withl means detachably latching yit across said pit, a track in the bottom of the pit passing'undersaid tables, 'a trolley travelable along said track, table elevating means on and reciprocal verticallyI above the trolley, movable between a position where it engages and lifts a table which itmay be undeighigh enough so vits latching mechanism may-[be released, and a position low .enough so that'the -trolley with said V'tal-le and a wheel loadthereon may move alongsaid track under one or more other such wheel tables, power means manipulating the table elevating means, said power means including a multiplicity of stationary screws 'rising from the trolley,- j a frame carrylng worm wheels traversing in unison said screws and a niotor,

7. lIn mechamsmof the class described, 1n

combination with means passing a wheeled vehicle over the ground, and a pit below it, having a multiplicity of separated Wheel tables /each equipped with meansV detachably latching it across said pit, a track inthe v bottomv'of the pit passing under said tables,

a trolley travelable along said track, table elevating means on 'and reciprocal vertically above the trolley, movable'between a position Where it engages and lifts a table which it may be under, high enough so its latching mechanism may be released, and a posi.

tion low enough so that the trolley with said table and a wheel load thereon may move along said track under one or more other such wheel tables, and an lar guides insuring proper interfltting of t e table elevating means Aand adjacent wheel-table,

In witness whereof, I have hereuntosubscribed my name. Y

OSCAR L. COFFEY. A 

